Five most anticipated Nintendo Switch games coming in 2022

2021 was an incredible year for the Nintendo Switch. With hits like Metroid Dread, Monster Hunter Rise, Monster Hunter Stories 2, and New Pokemon Snap, just to name a few, it’s easy to understand why the Switch the holiday season’s most popular console.

Nintendo isn’t slowing down either. 2022 is jam-packed with highly anticipated games and it all begins with Pokemon Legends: Arceus on January 28, 2022. Not every game announced for the Switch has a firm release date yet, but there are plenty to keep your eye on with the 2022 launch window.

Here are some of the already announced Nintendo Switch games I’m looking forward to playing in 2022.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus (January 28, 2022)

Travel back and explore the land of Hisui, long before it would eventually become known as Sinnoh. As a member of the Galaxy Expedition Team, you’re tasked with surveying, catching and researching wild Pokemon to complete the region’s first Pokedex.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is taking a new approach to gameplay, adopting more of an open world approach. As you explore the region and discover Pokemon, you’ll throw your Pokeball at them to begin battle, which happens as a seamless transition rather than switching to a traditional battle screen.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is also changing how the battle unfolds. Rather than a traditional turn-based combat system where each participating Pokemon takes one action per turn, Pokemon’s stats and other factors will determine how many actions a Pokemon gets to take.  This could mean one Pokemon might actually get to take multiple actions in a row before another gets to. This should open up all sorts of different strategies when engaging in a battle now.

Triangle Strategy (March 4, 2022)

Triangle Strategy is a HD-2D adventure. It’s a turn-based tactical role-playing game in the same vein as Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics; characters move across a grid-based map and take turns attacking and defending with multiple variables, such as range, attack power, weapons/armor, and terrain, etc., having an impact on the battle.

Beyond combat, Triangle Strategy has a deeply layered story as well. Key decisions you will make will bolster one of three convictions — Utility, Morality, Liberty — which will influence how the story unfolds.

A demo for Triangle Strategy was released back in February and received glowing praise, while also contributing to some direct changes to the game such as the addition of more difficulty modes, alternate camera angles and improved graphics and load times.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (2022)

Nintendo announced the sequel to Breath of the Wild at E3 2021 with committed to a 2022 release window. I’m actually not so optimistic with that but I’ve got it on the list until otherwise noted.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched alongside the Nintendo Switch in 2017 and earned rave reviews from critics and fans alike. It’s considered by many to be the best Switch game. Despite the glowing praise, it did have some technical issues such as inconsistent frame rates that I would hope the sequel to work out. Of course, depending on the scope of the game, it might require a more powerful console… the Switch Pro maybe?

I don’t know what Nintendo’s console plans are for 2022, but it would seem that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 would be a perfect pairing. If this game comes out in 2022, it will easily be the year’s biggest and most anticipated game. But I’m expecting it to be pushed to 2023.

Bayonetta 3 (2022)

Another game with another 2022 release window that I’m not entirely sure will be met. Bayonetta 3 was first announced all the way back in December 2017 but it wasn’t until September 2021 that we actually got to see our first look at gameplay — and there’s a lot to be excited about. Bayonetta makes her return with a few new surprises as well, including a new Demon Masquerade ability to channel the power of demons. Again, I’m hopeful this game comes out on the Nintendo Switch in 2022 but I’m not overly optimistic.

Splatoon 3 (2022)

I close this list with the third installment in Nintendo’s beloved family-friendly, third-person shooter. The Splatoon games are fantastic and I see no reason why Splatoon 3 won’t continue with that tradition. Splatoon 3 takes the action to the Splatlands with a variety of new environments and weapons. The fan-favorite 4v4 Turf War will return and perhaps the biggest new addition is a story mode in which you will join Agent 3 in a fight against the evil Octarian army.